Gustave lyon



Patented Apr. 18, 1893,

INVENTOH WITNESSES:

i ATTORNEYS UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GUSTAVE LYON, OF PARIS, FRANCE.

PIANOFORTE-ACTION.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 495,745, dated April 18, 1893. Application filed April 27, 1892. Serial No. 430,939. (No model.) Patented in France August 26, 89 215,747-

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GUSTAVE LYON, a citizen of the Republic of France, residing at Paris, in the Department of the Seine, France, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pianoforte-Actions, (for which I haveobtained a patent in France, No. 215,747, dated August 26, 1891,) of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to piano-forte actions, and contemplates a simple construction wherein the striking movement of the hammer will be positive, and repetitions of the same easily effected with but a comparatively slight release of the key.

In the accompanying drawing, the figure discloses a detail longitudinal sectional view of so much of a piano-forte action as is necessary to illustrate my invention.

Above the key A in the rear of the fulcrum pins of the same, a rocking bar B, is pivotally hung at its rear end to the hammer rest S, said bar B being provided with a depending heel b which normally rests on a cushioned bearing located on the key and rendered adjustable through the medium of a screw a.

Pivotally mounted in the outer free end of the lever B, is the lower end portion of a vertical escapement lever C, said lower end having an inward extension 0, upon which bears the end of a curved leaf spring R, secured to a fixed part of the apparatus and normally tending to restore and maintain the escapement lever in the position represented. The escapement lever O, is provided with a forwardly extending horizontal tail piece adapted to contact, when said lever has reached a certain position in ascending, with a depending stop V preferably adjustable as shown. The rod of the hammer M, is seated in the hinged butt N, the latter being provided in its under side with a nose n.

The parts thus far described, are those which pertain to the striking operation of the hammer which is a positive one. The repetition movement is effected through the agency of a short horizontal lever P, pivoted at its forward end to the escapement lever 0, said lever P being normally supported in the position shown by a leaf spring F. Depending from the butt N is a T shaped metal pin T with which the upper face of the lever P is adapted to be brought in contact. Mounted in the rear portion of the key A, is the hammer check E. The construction is such that when the key A,is depressed, the escapement lever O, is caused to rise and through its end contact with the nose of the butt, throws up the hammer M. Before however, the hammer strikes the strings, the tail piece D, abuts against the contact V, and thereby vibrates the escapement lever 0, upon its pivot and moves its end out of contact with the nose at. The hammer under the velocity or impulse acquired, strikes the string and is then free to fall back and rest upon the check E, which has been elevated with the rear portion of the key. Simultaneously with the movement of the escapement lever C, and the descent of the butt N, the pin T, is brought in contact with the short lever P, and which slightly yields under the action of its spring F. Now as the depression of key A, is relieved to a slight extent, the support of the check E, is withdrawn from the hammer and the latter under the force exerted by the spring F, on the lever P, will rise in proximity to the string. The hammer being thus in an elevated posi tion and the end of the escapement lever 0, having fallen by reason of the slight movement of the key, the escapement lever again returns to its position beneath the nose of the butt in engagement therewith, the reaction of the short lever P, moving in contact with the pin T, contributing to this result. All the parts therefore are in a position for striking and the key can be operated to cause the hammer to rapidly and successively strike the string, although said key may only have been permitted to rise to a slight extent after the initial depression. The short lever P, never acts as a check but comes into play when the check support is withdrawn from the hammer, the key being depressed sufficiently to raise the hammer far enough to allow the escapement lever to move under and incontact with the nose of the butt. As will be readily understood, the several bearing portions are suitably cushioned.

I claim-- In a piano-forte action the combination with the hammer supporting rail and a key pro- IOC vided with the hammer check of a pivotally escapernent lever is out of contact therewith, hung bar B, actuated bysaid key, and carrysaid lever P with its spring being carried di- 10 ing the spring yielding escapement lever enrectly by the escapement lever at the upper gaging the nose of the hinged hammer butt, end thereof, substantially as set forth.

5 a stop for vibrating said escapement lever be- G. LYON. fore the hammer completes its throw and a Witnesses: V

supplemental spring yielding lever P, to con- R. OANAT I. CLUZY,

tact with a projection of the butt, when the A. ROUSSEL. 

